Legal Resources by State & U.S. Territory

Legal Resources

Short answer: every state and territory keeps the same core legal resources online, and this page lists them in one place. For each one you will find the statutes, the court system and its self-help resources, the legislature, the attorney general, the state bar (for lawyer referral and licensing), the public defender and the largest legal aid programs. Only government bodies and the best-known non-profit programs are listed; legal aid programs serve people who qualify by income, and each states its own eligibility.

Tennessee, Memphis and Shelby County, and the federal courts are covered in depth on our Legal Resources page. Mississippi and Arkansas, where the firm also appears, are listed below with the rest. If you are charged with a crime in Memphis or anywhere in Tennessee, call (901) 324-5000 or text 901-412-2973.

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LawHelp.org — national directory of free legal aid programs and self-help information, by state
Legal Services Corporation — Find Legal Aid — locator for the federally funded civil legal aid program that serves each county
ABA Free Legal Answers — post a civil legal question for a volunteer lawyer in your state
National Center for State Courts — links to every state court system and its self-help resources
Cornell LII — State Law Resources — statutes, regulations and court opinions for every state

Legal Help by State

Alabama

Code of Alabama (ALISON)
Alabama Legislature
Alabama Judicial System — Supreme Court, appellate and trial courts, rules and forms
Alabama Attorney General
Alabama State Bar — lawyer licensing and referral
Alabama Office of Indigent Defense Services
Legal Services Alabama — free civil legal help statewide
AlabamaLegalHelp.org — self-help information and forms

Alaska

Alaska Statutes
Alaska State Legislature
Alaska Court System — includes the Family Law Self-Help Center
Alaska Department of Law
Alaska Bar Association — lawyer referral service
Alaska Public Defender Agency
Alaska Legal Services Corporation — free civil legal help statewide

Arizona

Arizona Revised Statutes
Arizona State Legislature
Arizona Judicial Branch — courts, rules, forms and self-service center
Arizona Attorney General
State Bar of Arizona — lawyer licensing and referral
AZLawHelp.org — statewide legal aid directory and self-help
Community Legal Services — free civil legal help in central and northern Arizona
Southern Arizona Legal Aid — free civil legal help in southern Arizona

Arkansas

Arkansas Code (Arkansas General Assembly)
Arkansas.gov — State Government Portal
Arkansas Judiciary — Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, circuit and district courts
Arkansas Attorney General
Arkansas Bar Association
Arkansas Public Defender Commission
Legal Aid of Arkansas — free civil legal help in 31 northern and eastern counties
Center for Arkansas Legal Services — free civil legal help in central and southern Arkansas
ARLegalHelp.org — self-help information and forms

California

California Legislative Information — Codes — all 29 California codes and bill text
California State Legislature
California Courts — Judicial Branch
California Attorney General
State Bar of California — lawyer licensing and certified lawyer referral services
Office of the State Public Defender — capital and appellate defense
California Courts Self-Help Guide — official self-help for every case type
LawHelpCA.org — statewide legal aid directory
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles — largest legal aid program in Southern California
Bay Area Legal Aid — free civil legal help in the Bay Area

Colorado

Colorado Revised Statutes
Colorado General Assembly
Colorado Judicial Branch — courts, forms and self-help centers
Colorado Attorney General
Colorado Bar Association
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender
Colorado Legal Services — free civil legal help statewide

Connecticut

Connecticut General Statutes
Connecticut General Assembly
Connecticut Judicial Branch — courts, forms and law libraries
Connecticut Attorney General
Connecticut Bar Association — lawyer referral service
Connecticut Division of Public Defender Services
Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut — free civil legal help statewide
CTLawHelp.org — self-help information and forms

Delaware

Delaware Code Online
Delaware General Assembly
Delaware Courts — Supreme Court, Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, Family and Chancery courts
Delaware Department of Justice (Attorney General)
Delaware State Bar Association — lawyer referral service
Delaware Office of Defense Services
Legal Services Corporation of Delaware — free civil legal help statewide
Community Legal Aid Society — free civil legal help for low-income, older and disabled Delawareans
Delaware Volunteer Legal Services — pro bono civil legal help

District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)

D.C. Code (Council of the District of Columbia)
Council of the District of Columbia
District of Columbia Courts — Superior Court and Court of Appeals, forms and self-help
Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
D.C. Bar — lawyer licensing and the Pro Bono Center
Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia
Legal Aid DC — free civil legal help for low-income D.C. residents
LawHelp.org/DC — self-help information and legal aid directory

Florida

Florida Statutes (Online Sunshine)
Florida Legislature
Florida Courts — Supreme Court, district courts of appeal, circuit and county courts, forms and self-help
Florida Attorney General
The Florida Bar — lawyer licensing and referral
Florida Public Defender Association — the 20 elected circuit public defenders
FloridaLawHelp.org — statewide legal aid directory and self-help
Florida Rural Legal Services — free civil legal help in central and south Florida
Legal Services of Greater Miami — free civil legal help in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties

Georgia

Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) — free public-access version published by LexisNexis
Georgia General Assembly
Judicial Council of Georgia / Administrative Office of the Courts
Georgia Attorney General
State Bar of Georgia — lawyer licensing and referral
Georgia Public Defender Council
Georgia Legal Services Program — free civil legal help outside metro Atlanta
Atlanta Legal Aid Society — free civil legal help in metro Atlanta
GeorgiaLegalAid.org — self-help information and forms

Hawaii

Hawaii Revised Statutes
Hawaii State Legislature
Hawaii State Judiciary — courts, forms and self-help centers
Hawaii Department of the Attorney General
Hawaii State Bar Association — lawyer referral and information service
Hawaii Office of the Public Defender
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii — free civil legal help statewide

Idaho

Idaho Statutes
Idaho Legislature
Idaho Supreme Court / Judicial Branch — courts, rules and the Court Assistance Office self-help resources
Idaho Attorney General
Idaho State Bar — lawyer licensing and referral
Idaho State Public Defender
Idaho Legal Aid Services — free civil legal help statewide

Illinois

Illinois Compiled Statutes
Illinois General Assembly
Illinois Courts — Supreme Court, appellate and circuit courts, forms and self-help
Illinois Attorney General
Illinois State Bar Association — lawyer finder
Office of the State Appellate Defender — appeals for defendants who cannot afford counsel
Illinois Legal Aid Online — statewide self-help and legal aid directory
Legal Aid Chicago — free civil legal help in Cook County
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid — free civil legal help in central and southern Illinois
Prairie State Legal Services — free civil legal help in northern Illinois

Indiana

Indiana Code (Indiana General Assembly)
Indiana General Assembly
Indiana Courts — courts, rules, forms and self-service legal center
Indiana Attorney General
Indiana State Bar Association
Indiana Public Defender Council
Indiana Legal Services — free civil legal help statewide
Indiana Legal Help — self-help information and forms

Iowa

Iowa Code
Iowa Legislature
Iowa Judicial Branch — courts, rules, forms and self-help
Iowa Attorney General
Iowa State Bar Association — find-a-lawyer directory
Iowa State Public Defender
Iowa Legal Aid — free civil legal help statewide

Kansas

Kansas Statutes (Kansas Legislature)
Kansas Judicial Branch — courts, rules, forms and self-help
Kansas Attorney General
Kansas Bar Association — lawyer referral service
Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services
Kansas Legal Services — free civil legal help statewide

Kentucky

Kentucky Revised Statutes
Kentucky General Assembly
Kentucky Court of Justice — courts, rules, forms and legal help
Kentucky Attorney General
Kentucky Bar Association — lawyer licensing and referral
Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy
Kentucky Legal Aid — free civil legal help in western Kentucky
Legal Aid of the Bluegrass — free civil legal help in central and northern Kentucky
Legal Aid Society (Louisville) — free civil legal help in the Louisville area
KYJustice.org — statewide self-help information

Louisiana

Louisiana Revised Statutes and Codes (Louisiana State Legislature)
Louisiana Supreme Court — the court system, rules and court directory
Louisiana Attorney General
Louisiana State Bar Association — lawyer licensing and referral
Louisiana Office of the State Public Defender — oversees the district public defender offices since the 2024 reorganisation
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services — free civil legal help in southeast Louisiana
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation — free civil legal help in central, north and southwest Louisiana
LouisianaLawHelp.org — self-help information and forms

Maine

Maine Revised Statutes
Maine Legislature
Maine Judicial Branch — courts, forms and self-help
Maine Attorney General
Maine State Bar Association — lawyer referral service
Maine Commission on Public Defense Services
Pine Tree Legal Assistance — free civil legal help statewide
Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project — pro bono civil legal help

Maryland

Maryland Code (General Assembly)
Maryland General Assembly
Maryland Courts — courts, forms and self-help centers
Maryland Attorney General
Maryland State Bar Association
Maryland Office of the Public Defender
Maryland Legal Aid — free civil legal help statewide
People’s Law Library of Maryland — self-help legal information from the Maryland courts

Massachusetts

Massachusetts General Laws
Massachusetts General Court (Legislature)
Massachusetts Court System — courts, forms and court service centers
Massachusetts Attorney General
Massachusetts Bar Association — lawyer referral service
Committee for Public Counsel Services — the Massachusetts public defender
MassLegalHelp.org — statewide self-help information
Greater Boston Legal Services — free civil legal help in the Boston area

Michigan

Michigan Compiled Laws (Michigan Legislature)
Michigan Courts — courts, rules, forms and self-help centers
Michigan Attorney General
State Bar of Michigan — lawyer licensing and referral
Michigan Indigent Defense Commission
Michigan Legal Help — statewide self-help information and forms
Legal Services of South Central Michigan — free civil legal help
Lakeshore Legal Aid — free civil legal help in southeast Michigan

Minnesota

Minnesota Statutes (Office of the Revisor)
Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota Judicial Branch — courts, forms and self-help centers
Minnesota Attorney General
Minnesota State Bar Association — lawyer referral
Minnesota Board of Public Defense
LawHelpMN.org — statewide legal aid directory and self-help
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid — free civil legal help in central Minnesota and the Twin Cities

Mississippi

Mississippi Code — free public-access version published by LexisNexis
Mississippi Legislature
Mississippi Judiciary — Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, trial courts and rules
Mississippi Attorney General
The Mississippi Bar — lawyer licensing and referral
Mississippi Office of State Public Defender
Mississippi Center for Legal Services — free civil legal help in central and southern Mississippi
North Mississippi Rural Legal Services — free civil legal help in northern Mississippi, including DeSoto County
Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project — pro bono civil legal help
Mississippi.gov — state government portal

Missouri

Missouri Revised Statutes (Revisor of Statutes)
Missouri General Assembly — House
Missouri Courts — courts, rules, forms and self-help
Missouri Attorney General
The Missouri Bar — lawyer licensing and referral
Missouri State Public Defender
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri — free civil legal help in the St. Louis region
Legal Aid of Western Missouri — free civil legal help in the Kansas City region
Mid-Missouri Legal Services — free civil legal help in central Missouri

Montana

Montana Code Annotated
Montana Legislature
Montana Judicial Branch — courts, forms and self-help law centers
Montana Department of Justice (Attorney General)
State Bar of Montana — lawyer referral service
Montana Office of State Public Defender
Montana Legal Services Association — free civil legal help statewide
MontanaLawHelp.org — self-help information and forms

Nebraska

Nebraska Revised Statutes
Nebraska Legislature
Nebraska Judicial Branch — courts, rules, forms and self-help
Nebraska Attorney General
Nebraska State Bar Association — lawyer referral service
Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy
Legal Aid of Nebraska — free civil legal help statewide

Nevada

Nevada Revised Statutes (Nevada Legislature)
Nevada Judiciary — Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, district and justice courts
Nevada Attorney General
State Bar of Nevada — lawyer licensing and referral
Nevada Department of Indigent Defense Services
Nevada Legal Services — free civil legal help statewide
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada — free civil legal help in Clark County

New York

New York Consolidated Laws (NY Senate)
New York State Legislature
New York State Unified Court System — courts, forms and CourtHelp self-help
New York Attorney General
New York State Bar Association — lawyer referral service
New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services
LawHelpNY.org — statewide legal aid directory and self-help
The Legal Aid Society (New York City) — civil, criminal and juvenile defense in the five boroughs
Legal Services NYC — free civil legal help in New York City
Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York — free civil legal help in the Capital Region and the North Country

North Carolina

North Carolina General Statutes (General Assembly)
North Carolina Judicial Branch — courts, forms and self-help
North Carolina Department of Justice (Attorney General)
North Carolina State Bar — lawyer licensing and discipline
North Carolina Bar Association — lawyer referral service
North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services
Legal Aid of North Carolina — free civil legal help statewide

North Dakota

North Dakota Century Code
North Dakota Legislative Branch
North Dakota Courts — courts, rules, forms and legal self-help
North Dakota Attorney General
State Bar Association of North Dakota — lawyer referral service
North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents
Legal Services of North Dakota — free civil legal help statewide

Ohio

Ohio Revised Code (Ohio Laws & Administrative Rules)
Ohio General Assembly
Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio Judicial System — courts, rules, forms and self-help
Ohio Attorney General
Ohio State Bar Association — find-a-lawyer directory
Ohio Legal Help — statewide self-help information and legal aid directory
Legal Aid Society of Cleveland — free civil legal help in northeast Ohio
Legal Aid Society of Columbus — free civil legal help in central Ohio

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Statutes (OSCN)
Oklahoma Legislature
Oklahoma State Courts Network — courts, dockets, rules and opinions
Oklahoma Attorney General
Oklahoma Bar Association — lawyer licensing and find-a-lawyer
Oklahoma Indigent Defense System
Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma — free civil legal help statewide
OKLaw.org — self-help information and forms

Oregon

Oregon Revised Statutes (Oregon State Legislature)
Oregon Judicial Department — courts, forms and self-help
Oregon Department of Justice (Attorney General)
Oregon State Bar — lawyer licensing and referral
Oregon Public Defense Commission
OregonLawHelp.org — statewide self-help information and legal aid directory
Legal Aid Services of Oregon — free civil legal help statewide
Oregon Law Center — free civil legal help and advocacy

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania General Assembly
Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania — courts, rules, forms and self-help
Pennsylvania Attorney General
Pennsylvania Bar Association — lawyer referral service
Defender Association of Philadelphia — the state’s largest public defender office; other counties have their own
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network — statewide legal aid directory
Philadelphia Legal Assistance — free civil legal help in Philadelphia
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia — free civil legal help in Philadelphia

Rhode Island

Rhode Island General Laws
Rhode Island General Assembly
Rhode Island Judiciary — courts, forms and self-help
Rhode Island Attorney General
Rhode Island Bar Association — lawyer referral service
Rhode Island Public Defender
Rhode Island Legal Services — free civil legal help statewide

South Carolina

South Carolina Code of Laws
South Carolina Legislature
South Carolina Judicial Branch — courts, rules, forms and self-help
South Carolina Attorney General
South Carolina Bar — lawyer referral service
South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense
South Carolina Legal Services — free civil legal help statewide

South Dakota

South Dakota Codified Laws
South Dakota Legislature
South Dakota Unified Judicial System — courts, forms and self-help
South Dakota Attorney General
State Bar of South Dakota — lawyer referral service
East River Legal Services — free civil legal help in eastern South Dakota
Dakota Plains Legal Services — free civil legal help in western South Dakota and tribal areas

Tennessee

See the Legal Resources page for Tennessee, Memphis & Shelby County and the federal courts.

Texas

Texas Constitution and Statutes
Texas Legislature Online
Texas Judicial Branch — courts, rules, forms and self-help
Texas Attorney General
State Bar of Texas — lawyer licensing and referral
Texas Indigent Defense Commission
TexasLawHelp.org — statewide self-help information and forms
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid — free civil legal help in southwest Texas
Lone Star Legal Aid — free civil legal help in east Texas and Houston
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas — free civil legal help in north and west Texas

Utah

Utah Code (Utah State Legislature)
Utah State Courts — courts, forms and self-help center
Utah Attorney General
Utah State Bar — lawyer licensing and referral
Utah Indigent Defense Commission
Utah Legal Services — free civil legal help statewide

Vermont

Vermont Statutes Online
Vermont General Assembly
Vermont Judiciary — courts, forms and self-help
Vermont Attorney General
Vermont Bar Association — lawyer referral service
Vermont Office of the Defender General
Vermont Legal Aid — free civil legal help statewide
Legal Services Vermont — statewide intake and advice
VTLawHelp.org — self-help information and forms

Virginia

Code of Virginia (Legislative Information System)
Virginia General Assembly
Virginia’s Judicial System — courts, forms and self-help
Virginia Attorney General
Virginia State Bar — lawyer licensing and referral
Virginia Indigent Defense Commission
VaLegalAid.org — statewide legal aid directory and self-help
Legal Aid Justice Center — free civil legal help and advocacy
Legal Services of Northern Virginia — free civil legal help in northern Virginia

Washington

Revised Code of Washington
Washington State Legislature
Washington Courts — courts, forms and self-help
Washington Attorney General
Washington State Bar Association — lawyer licensing and referral
Washington State Office of Public Defense
Northwest Justice Project — free civil legal help statewide, with the CLEAR hotline
WashingtonLawHelp.org — self-help information and forms

West Virginia

West Virginia Code
West Virginia Legislature
West Virginia Judiciary — courts, rules, forms and self-help
West Virginia Attorney General
West Virginia State Bar — lawyer licensing and referral
West Virginia Public Defender Services
Legal Aid of West Virginia — free civil legal help statewide

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Statutes
Wisconsin State Legislature
Wisconsin Court System — courts, forms and self-help law centers
Wisconsin Department of Justice (Attorney General)
State Bar of Wisconsin — lawyer referral and information service
Wisconsin State Public Defender
Legal Action of Wisconsin — free civil legal help in southern Wisconsin
Wisconsin Judicare — free civil legal help in northern Wisconsin

Wyoming

Wyoming Statutes
Wyoming Legislature
Wyoming Judicial Branch — courts, forms and self-help
Wyoming Attorney General
Wyoming State Bar — lawyer licensing and referral
Wyoming State Public Defender
Legal Aid of Wyoming — free civil legal help statewide

U.S. Territories

The territories run smaller systems, so most entries here are the government bodies themselves; where a bar association or legal aid program keeps a website, it is listed.

Puerto Rico

Office of Legislative Services of Puerto Rico (laws)
Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico — Senate
Puerto Rico Judicial Branch (Rama Judicial)
Puerto Rico Department of Justice
Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Puerto Rico
Sociedad para Asistencia Legal — criminal defense for people who cannot afford a lawyer
Servicios Legales de Puerto Rico — free civil legal help for low-income residents
Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico — free legal education and self-help

U.S. Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands Code (Legislature)
Virgin Islands Judiciary — Supreme Court and Superior Court
Virgin Islands Department of Justice (Attorney General)
Virgin Islands Bar Association
Office of the Territorial Public Defender
Legal Services of the Virgin Islands — free civil legal help for low-income residents

Guam

Guam Code Annotated (Compiler of Laws)
Guam Legislature
Judiciary of Guam
Office of the Attorney General of Guam
Guam Bar Association
Public Defender Service Corporation
Guam Legal Services Corporation — Disability Law Center — free civil legal help for low-income residents

American Samoa

American Samoa Code Annotated and court information (American Samoa Bar Association) — the territory’s licensing body; hosts the Code Annotated and High Court information
American Samoa Legislature (Fono)
High Court of American Samoa (Pacific Judicial Council listing) — court contacts, clerk and judges
American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs (Attorney General)

Northern Mariana Islands

Commonwealth Code (Law Revision Commission)
CNMI Legislature
CNMI Judiciary — Supreme Court and Superior Court
CNMI Office of the Attorney General
Micronesian Legal Services Corporation — Marianas Office — free civil legal help on Saipan, Rota and Tinian

These links are provided as a public service. Brooks Law Firm does not control and is not responsible for the content of external websites. Inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement. If any link is broken or has moved, please let us know at patrick@patrickbrookslaw.com.